Stocking



By Elmer aback/lead v ATTORNEY.

ELMER o. LOCHEEAD,

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE OF MOIBEBLY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNQR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES R. HENDERSON, F MOBEERLY, MISSOURI STOCKING Application filed July 29, 1930. Serial No. 471,506.

This invention relates to the knitting of Figure 3 is a further reduced elevation of a tubular articles and is particularly adapted for application in the knitting ofseamless stockings. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a knitted stocking having portions thereof reinforced to withstandexceptional wear without the necessity of introducing any extra threads into the reinforced portion'as is the common, present practice, thereby eliminating the unsightly raw ends of extra threads at the point of mergence between the reinforced portion of the stocking and the main body portion thereof.'

A further object of the invention is to provide a knitted stocking having a reinforced portion as aforesaid, wherein the reinforced portion is positioned at the point of contact between 'the stocking and the upper edge of a low shoe to prevent the latter from wearing through the stocking, and wherein the reinforced portion extends above such point of contact in an ornamental design.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knitted stocking having a reinforced portion with an ornamental extension as aforesaid, wherein the reinforced portion and ornamental extension are utilized for reducing the circumference of the stocking at the instep and ankle in order that the stocking may more accurately assume the natural shape of the leg and more snugly fit the same when the stocking is Worn.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views: v

Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation showing a fragmentary portion of a stocking construct ed in accordance with this invention, .such portion being shown flat to more clearly illustrate the invention. A

Figure 2 is a reduced elevation of the fragmentary reinforcement shown in Figure 1,

such reinforcement being shownflat as in Figural.

stockin g formed with the reinforcement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the steps formed in the reinforcement being exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the same.

In carrying out the present invention, the main body portion 1 of the stocking is knitted in the usual manner on a circular knitting machine of any well known type. During this process the threads 2 are successively ex tended circumferentially of the stocking and stitched, thereby forming a series of vertically disposed Wales 3 which simultaneously increase in length as the knitting proceeds, each of the wales 3 being composed of a succession of interengaging loops 4v Upon reaching that part of the stocking wherein the reinforced portion 5 is embodied, the machine is set in a manner to throw a predetermined number of alternate needles out of action during each revolution of the needle cylinder, the alternate needles which are thrown out of action during successive revolutions being adjacent those which were thrown out of action during the next preceeding revolution. During this period the thread is floated by the needles out of action instead of being formed into stitches thereby, such floating thread being formed into stitches during the "next revolution while the thread is being floated by the other set of alternate needles out of action. The netv result of the foregoing action is to form the parts 6 of the wales at the reinforced portion 5 with a succession of relatively long loops 7, such loops 7 of each wale part 6 being staggered with respect to the loops 7 of the next adjacent wale parts 6. Owing tothe elongated form of the loops 7, the Wale parts 6 are drawn more closely together than the wales 3, and owing to the lesser number of loops 4 and 7 formed in the threads 2 extendrevolution is increased for a predetermined number of revolutions, thereby periodically decreasing the circumference of the stocking as the ankle thereof is approached, and at the same time forming the margin of the portion 5 with a succession of ornamental steps 8.

Upon approaching the heel of the stocking, the machine is set to further increase the number of alternate needles thrown out of action during each revolution whereby the circumference of the stocking is further decreased. The increased number of alternate needles thus thrown out of action is further increased at predetermined periods of the knitting process whereby a succession of steps 9 are formed similar to the steps 8.

It will be readily observed that a stocking knitted in the foregoing manner will be provided with a reinforcement at thepart 10 thereof subjected to'the greatest friction with a low shoe and that the reinforcement at such point will be provided with a circumference varying, ornamental, upward extension. It will he observed further that-the foregoing characteristics have been imparted to the stocking without introducing thereinto any threads extraneous to the main body portion 1 of the stocking. Obviously the foregoing reinforcing principle may be extended to the heel and sole of the stocking, or to any combination of such parts, if desired. Such an extension of the principle is not illustrated herein, as such an illustration would be but a mere duplication.

. It is though that the many advantages to be derived from the application of this invention will be readily apparent, and although the'preferred application of the inrention as herein illustrated and described, it is to be understood that deviations may be made which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is 1. A stocking including a main body portion having circumferentially extending threads formed into a succession of loops to provide a series of wales extending longitudinally of the stocking, sald stocking further including a relnforced portion merging into the main body portion and composed of elongated loops formed in said threads, such elongated loops in alternate threads providing Wale parts integral with and in continuation of the wales in said main body portion.

2. A stocking including a main body'portion having circumferentially extending threads formed 1nt0 a succession of loops to provide a serles of wales extendin'glongitudinally of the stocking, saidstocking fur- V ther including a reinforced portion merging into the main body portion and composedof elongated-loops formed in said threads, such eelongated loops in alternate threads providmg wale parts integral with and in continuation of the wales in said main body portion, the elongated loops of each of said wale parts being staggered with respect to the elongated loops of adjacent wale parts.

3. A stocking including a main body portion having eircumferentially extending threads formed into a succession of loops to provide a series of wales' extending longitudinally of the stocking, said stocking further including a reinforced portion merging into the main body portion and composed of elongated loops formed in said threads, such elongated loops in alternate threads providing wale parts in continuation of the'wales in said main body portion, said wale parts being in closer proximity to each other than said wales whereby the circumference of the stocking is reduced at the part thereof formed with said reinforced portion.

4. A stocking including a main body portion having circumferentially extending threads formed into a succession of loops to provide a series of wales extending longitudinally of the stocking, said stocltlng further including a reinforced portion merging into the main body portion and composed of elongated loops formed in said threads, such a, elongated loops in alternate threads providstocking subjected to greater wear by the upper edge of a low shoe and having an upward extension of decreasing width to properly vary the circumference of the stocking at the angle thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

ELMER C. LOCHHEAD. 

